Hello everyone! I am so glad I came across this site. Reading the forums have been both fun and helpful. My husband is a rough carpenter(well I think he's an everything carpenter)and after being with his company for 13 years got his first lay off in December. It took us about 6 months to realize that we had a trailer for our dirt bikes and he worked for a lawn company for a couple of years when he was younger. We had $1000.00 left in savings to work with. So far it seems to be going good even though Brian's company called him back to work. I'm kinda learning as I go. My job is all the stuff besides cutting the lawns, although I did go out last week and cut one of our customers back grass. It was pretty cool. Right now I'm pretty clueless about fall clean up pricing. Can anyone help? The properties around here are about 40x125

Steve

10-16-2007 02:00 PM

Hi jeannette4,

Welcome to our forum! What has been your experience so far with running your own business? Do you like it. What are you most looking forwards to now with your business?

I was actually pretty surprized how smooth everything seemed to go. Within like 3 days we had our DBA name, license through the city and ins. Well this is what I mean about learning as I go, I called the city and they asked about our ins. and I said um... let me call you right back and called my ins. guy and asked him what she was talking about. We hope to see this business grow & grow which is going to be some work. We say how our young sons are going to each have a truck and a crew when they get older. I told my husband the other day I think I should talk to an account and he said he thought that was one of my jobs. Is that something I could do myself if I keep good records?

jeannette4

10-16-2007 02:50 PM

Oh this is maybe where I was suppose to reply. I'll get it!

Steve

10-16-2007 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]I told my husband the other day I think I should talk to an account and he said he thought that was one of my jobs. Is that something I could do myself if I keep good records?

One of the things I have learned is that there are a lot smarter people out there than me. People who know more about things I know nothing about.

I am very impressed with the job you have done getting this up and running. Your desire to talk to an accountant is another step in the right direction. I mean, these people go to college for many many years to learn this stuff. What's the harm in you scheduling an hour to talk to one.

Believe me when I say this, setting it up the right way now is going to alleviate huge future troubles down the road. Even if you talk to a bookkeeper. Find out what you need to keep track of. What services you need to charge sales tax on. Once you know, you will do just fine!

What kinds of things are you doing for your marketing so far? How are you getting the word out about your business?

jeannette4

10-16-2007 04:08 PM

Yea your right. Good points! An accountants going on the to do list. As far as marketing I first went around to businesses which I didn't really like, Then I passed out flyers in the neighborhood like 4 times. I printed them on my slow **- computer. There has been a few times people walked up to them while they were out. We cut my neighbors grass and then his friend came over and asked us come cut his grass and now his neighbor wants us to do his. I also got magnets for the van, yea still working on the truck thing but our customers don't seem to care. I save things I find so that when the money comes in I'll try. This is a cool example, A friend of mine opened a tanning salon so my daughter and I were going there and one night I dropped her off and went to Krogers and the basket I grabbed had an advertisement for they're business. So I wrote down the 800 number to call and get info how to do it. I also got refridgerator magnets to send to new customers with thank you letters, but there pretty cheap, I'll shop around before I order more. Thanks again for your words and encouragement

Steve

10-16-2007 04:12 PM

Are you affiliated with any community organizations? Or are any of your family members?

jeannette4

10-16-2007 04:24 PM

No, why?

Steve

10-16-2007 04:59 PM

Well, they are great ways to get the word out about your business. Offer to do some good deeds through them etc.

You should ask your friend what kind of return they got on their investment with the basket advertising. We don't see too much of that in this industry because I am guessing it doesn't work well enough.

Will you be promoting handy-man type of services too, since your husband knows how to do such things?

That might help you get more cash flow.

Have you thought of ways your business might stand out in your community? Do you all have any interests that you could leverage to help you gain attention?

moseley creek

10-16-2007 08:35 PM

As far as advertising during my first year I went to www.politicalsigns.com and got some courgated plastic signs made just plain white with red letters. They had business name phone number and said free estimates on them. They got a huge response. I am getting more made for the early spring. This sight I am refering to was the cheapest I could find out there at the time (2005).